Child Neglect

    Child Neglectof a child is defined as the failure of a caretaker to provide adequate emotional and physical care for a child. There are many different types of neglect. The most heard about type of neglect is child neglect. There are a reported three million cases of child niglect in the United States each year. But that is only the cases that are reported. Experts believe that there is an estimated three times the number of reported cases of child abuse that occur each year. One reason that child abuse is heard of more than any other kind is because children have always been an easy target because of their trusting nature. It is reported that four children die from abuse each and three of those children are under the age of four. Even if children are able to escape from their abusers they have been not only physically abused, but emotionally and mentally abused. The type of abuse that they have endured causes the victims of abuse to be two and a half times more likely to abuse alcohol and they are three point eight times more likely to abuse drugs. But the most disturbing fact about children who have been abused is that  they are one third more likely to abuse their own children, which continues the cycle of abuse.
    There are many different signs of abuse. These signs are either emotional, physical or sexual. Children who have been abused may show physical signs such as unexplained cuts and bruises on the child. They may also have problems interacting with others and they may be afraid of adults. Signs of emotional abuse may include such signs as apathy, depression, hostility or stress, a lack of concentration and possibly an eating disorder. Sexual signs that a child may show include an unhealthy interest in sexual acts, nightmares that may be accompanied by bed wetting, a drastic change in appetite and possibly the fear a particular person. Neglect is one of the largest problems facing the youth of America. If you think that you have witnessed possible signs of neglect you  need to contact the authorities in your area. Neglect is preventable and can be stopped.

http://www.childwelfare.gov/can/